The annual Great American Beer Festival, held on September 30, 2023, in Denver, Colorado, recognized two exceptional beers from Illinois, awarding them top honors in the highly competitive juicy or hazy India Pale Ale (IPA) category. The event, which saw participation from 1,555 breweries and cideries across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, highlighted the continuing popularity of these vibrant beer styles among consumers.
Destihl Brewery, based in Normal, Illinois, clinched the gold medal for its TourBus Double Dry Hopped Hazy IPA. Judges praised its unique flavor profile, which exemplifies the characteristics that enthusiasts seek in juicy IPAs. Following closely, the silver medal was awarded to MadeWest Hazy, brewed by MadeWest Brewing Co. of Ventura, California. The bronze medal went to Cloud Counter, created by Pollyanna Brewing Co. located in Lemont, Illinois.
With a total of 301 entries, the juicy or hazy IPA category was the most contested at the festival, underscoring the growing interest in these styles. The second-most entered category, West Coast India Pale Ale, received 300 submissions. The gold medal in this category was awarded to How the West Was One: Mosaic, brewed by Westbound & Down Brewing Co. from Idaho Springs, Colorado. The silver went to Coast Molinos from Los Molinos Beer Co. in San Clemente, California, while the bronze was secured by Cosmic Guava West Coast IPA from pFriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon.
In total, the festival awarded 347 medals, including gold, silver, and bronze, to beers across 108 categories and ciders in eight categories. A remarkable 8,315 entries were evaluated by a panel of 250 judges over the course of seven days.
The festival also recognized outstanding breweries with the Brewer of the Year award, which was given to eight establishments: Zeus Brewing Co. of Poughkeepsie, New York; UPP Liquids of Bend, Oregon; Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. from Golden, Colorado; River North Brewery based in Denver, Colorado; Third Eye Brewing Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio; Westbound & Down Brewing Co.-Westbound Mill from Lafayette, Colorado; Fat Head’s Brewery located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio; and Allagash Brewing Co. from Portland, Maine.
Additionally, the Cidermaker of the Year award went to Gowan’s Heirloom Cider of Philo, California, recognizing its exemplary contribution to the cider industry.
According to Chris Williams, the competition director for the Brewers Association, which hosts the annual festival, “Year after year, the Great American Beer Festival sets the bar for American brewing and, for the second year in a row, cidermaking.” This year marked the 39th edition of this prestigious competition, further solidifying its reputation in the craft beverage industry.
As the craft beer movement continues to evolve, the recognition of Illinois breweries at this year’s festival highlights the state’s growing prominence in the national brewing scene.
